ORIGINAL: skipsbroan
My personal opinion is that I prefer to harvest my game animals in the quickest, most efficient way possible. If I spend 1 day rather than a week getting my meat, I'm happy. I have plenty of other things to do and see hunting as simply an enjoyable way of getting meat that isn't available commercially. So I'm not as worthy a hunter as those of you who would rather do it the hard way and spend a week for no other reason than "I'm doing it the righteous way". Big deal, I couldn't care less about your opinion either.
So I hunt in areas I think will produce animals quickly, huntwith thelegal techniques I think will work best and most efficiently. Use the weapons that will kill quickest, most efficient and humanely,and kill for meat, not style points or antlers.
Zekeskar, I'm all for harvesting game quickly too. I'm sure all of us have plenty of other things to do...some of us prefer to spend time in the woods observing wildlife, scouting, hunting, etc. I understand you don't care what anybody's opinion is, but by posting YOUR opinion, you invite others to post theirs, whether it jives with yours or not. I was just personally frustrated by the hunters in my area, as they use methods that I don't care for, legal though they may be...and I think alot of people in this thread feel the same way about baiting. But everybody can have an opinion. I also agree with NYBowhunter when he referred to that style of hunting (referring to baiting I believe) takes away from the experience. I think that applies to what I was talking about as well.
I know this ought to invite some comments, but I'm going to say it anyway. You want "speed hunting"...stay home & play Big Game Hunter on your computer in the comfort of your home. God forbid what is supposed to be an enjoyable pasttime take up too much of your time that could be better spent doing whatever else is going on in your life. Let me ask you this: Why hunt if you don't want to spend any time doing it? What made you get into hunting in the 1st place? I know for me, it's a luxury to be able to spend a few days doing nothing but hunting, and I enjoy it!
Ok. wow. that really sounds like I'm on a soapbox, and that's not my intention...just trying to voice my opinion.
rereading my post I sounded kind of harsh - I didn't intend to sound arrogant,disrespectful,or dismissive of others. Really, I do enjoy being in the woods and respect, maybe even envyothers who spend a lot of time doing it. In another stage of my life I might devote more time to it as well.
But right now, the reason I hunt is primarily because my family and I love venison and I enjoy harvesting the animal myself. Since we love venison andthestate(s) need to controldeer populations,we have a greatopportunity.
That said, right now, I do not feel in any way cheated if I shoot my deer at sunrise on opening day, take care of the meat and go about my other non-hunting business.I like hunting but no more than about 10 other hobbies and activities I love. There is no substitute for the meat in the eyes of my family though. Same way with the salmon I catch every year.Salmon fishing is a BLAST, but bottom line is I try to figure out the best place, time of year, and technique for taking salmon (within legal limits), as efficiently and quickly as possible.
I have some spots, based on years of scouting and hunting on my part and the part of my partners, that are proven winners. Iam happy to sit in those established spots and try to get venison quickly with as little effort as possible. Some years I have more time to spend and am happy to spend some of my time exploring new ground, looking for sign, establishing a new spot. But when push comes to shove, I'm happy to fall back on established, high percentage areas.
I'm just as happy with any deer(s) that will get meour meat.Trophys have absolutely no interest for me, so I do not work or wait for one.If I ever get a trophy deer it won't be because of my skill or patience, but blind luck. (editorial comment - this is how I feel about the "achievement" of those who pay for a hunt that puts them on a trophy deer without any scouting, or prep on their own part - it's a beautiful deer. It might be a tribute to their patience and shooting skill,but not a tribute to their own hunting skill, but that of the outfitter/guide - the deer is a trophy, but the hunter is not necessarily a great hunter just because the deer is great).
To those of you that work hard for trophies and have the ability and courageto wait for one - I do respect you a lot and am not criticizing you in any way.You should indeed be proud of your trophies and I would be tickled pink to buy you a beer and hear your stories.
For those of you that work hard for your meatdeer and like to spend as much time as you can in the activity - I make the same comment to you.
But I really don't care if anyone approves of my goal or technique in hunting: the goal is meat, the technique is least amount of effort I can get away with, legally. I do have a personal set of ethics and style, but for the most partItry foreasy and efficient.I know for a fact that those who hunt for subsistence purposes are closer to my attitude.